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Topic: Floating Retirement Homes

Ali
First Class Passenger
Member # 1526

posted 09-06-2000 11:26 AM

I was chatting with my TA the other day and (I have no recollection as to how we got on this subject) she mentioned that some families use cruises as "retirement homes" for their parents. They just book back-to-back continuous cruises and place their mom or dad or both on the cruise and let the staff take care of them. The price is compatible with a retirement home and the parent(s) seem content. The big problem is when/if the ship is placed in dry-dock and the cruise line is scrambling to place the people on another cruise line. Has anyone ever heard of this? And what is your opinion???

Posts: 26 | From: Defiance, Ohio USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-06-2000 11:47 AM

Yes, have heard of it on the Rotterdam. There was a lady who just stayed on the ship but I don't know what she did during dry dock. Maybe LizB knows more info.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Molly
First Class Passenger
Member # 853

posted 09-06-2000 11:59 AM

I hope my children read this post! What a way to spend the "golden years"!

Posts: 68 | From: Norman Park, GA USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-06-2000 06:54 PM

Yes, sympatico is right. I met one of the
lady residents of the Rotterdam....back in
1979 or 1980....she was on the Rotterdam
more than the captain.....he at least took
a vacation. She only got off while the ship
was in drydock and then she would take a
room at a nearby hotel waiting eagerly for
the day she could reboard. She was a retired
cellist with a son in NYC. When the ship was
in NYC she would arrange for him to come
aboard to visit along with her one grand-
son. I am not sure just how many years she
did this.
I think the record goes to one woman who
"lived" on the Sagafjord for more than 15
years.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-06-2000 09:12 PM

Thanks NAL - I really didn't know anything about this lady, but I had heard about her. There was also another lady, who lived in Brazil, and she practically lived on the Rot also. Wonder if LizB met either of these ladies.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-06-2000 10:55 PM

sympatico....
I never met the Brazilian lady....perhaps
Liz will shed some light. I think it was
Captain Lagaay who always teased Eleanor
about how much more time she spent aboard
the Rotterdam than he did. He was senior
captain of HAL at the time.....I am sure
you know him. Is he still alive????? I
remember when he retired, but don't remember
the year......ealy 80's perhaps????

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

LizB
First Class Passenger
Member # 1243

posted 09-07-2000 07:27 AM

NAL and sympatico...I vaguely remember the lady NAL refers to from '79-80 on the Rotterdam but can't remember her name.
The lady originally from Brazil is Hansi Brat
(sp?). She and her husband were from Germany before they moved to Brazil, and they both used to sail on the World Cruise. After he died she would stay on the ship for at least 6-months out of the year...doing the WC every year.I believe it was two years ago she had to be taken off the Rotterdam WC because of a problem from her diabetes and has since had a foot removed, I believe, because of this. She is still sailing but on shorter cruises and has to now sail with a companion. She now lives in Miami.
Good old Captain Lagaay...I remember when he gave me my silver medal and then had my mother and me to his quarters for drinks afterwards. Those were the good old days! He did retire in the early 80's and died around the early '90's or late '80's. He was Captain when my mother did the WC on the Rotterdam V in 1971! Such wonderful memories to share with both of you.

Posts: 133 | From: S.Dennis,MA, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-07-2000 07:49 AM

LizB and sympatico....

The lady cellist on the Rotterdam was
Eleanor Cates [or Kates].....she was a
character. We had drinks with her in the
Ocean Bar and I remember vaguely that she
spoke of the many WC's she had taken. She
didn't like it the time they used the old
Statendam for the WC.....must have been in
the '50's......she was devoted to the old
Nieuw Amsterdam and later to the Rotterdam.
To my knowledge, they never used the old
NA for a WC. She was in her 80's when I met
her so I would guess she is no longer doing
cruises.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-07-2000 08:33 AM

LizB - I thought I heard that Hansi had died. Will ask my friend on the Statendam.
NAL - never knew Captain Lagaay. He must have been before my time. I can't even think of who the Captains were back in the '80's. If I heard their names, I might remember.
Those were different days, Liz. We all have such wonderful memories.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ali
First Class Passenger
Member # 1526

posted 09-07-2000 11:43 AM

NAL, Sympatico and LizB - Reading your posts is fascinating! You guys are the ultimate in cruise knowledge! Without seeming too personal - how long have you been cruising? Can you note any specific changes that have occurred during your years at sea? And how did you manage to go so often?

Posts: 26 | From: Defiance, Ohio USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-07-2000 01:48 PM

Hi Ali - I have been sailing with HAL exclusively since the fall of '81 - #35 coming up. I know that LizB and NAL have a lot more cruises behind them.
How did we manage to go to often - my husband saved his money and wouldn't spend anything on the house. Cruising was his first priority and now that he is not here I am glad for his sake that he did take all those cruises - he loved them and really enjoyed himself, as LizB will tell you.
Specific changes - pools with retractable roofs, cabins with verandahs, more public rooms, glitzier interiors, more new ships, 2 story dining rooms - can't think of anything at the moment - maybe NAL and LizB will have more info.
I know you will enjoy your cruise and keep going back every year. Have a great time - best way to have a vacation.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

LizB
First Class Passenger
Member # 1243

posted 09-07-2000 02:29 PM

Hi Ali...My first sailing on a ship (Holland America's old Maasdam) was in 1956 when a friend and I decided to venture to Europe for 8-weeks. In those days we were two working gals with no ties so we decided to save our money and just go see the World! Returned on the Queen Elizabeth.
Then in 1966...after my father had died...my mother wanted to go to Europe as she had never been, so we sailed over on the ss France (now the Norway) and after 10-weeks returned on the Rotterdam V (now Big Red Boat II). Believe it or not, NAL and I have discovered we were BOTH on that 1966 sailing on the Rotterdam, and he has just found the old passenger list with our names!!!!Small world!
Then my mother wanted to start cruising in 1967 but didn't want to go alone so took me (and paid my way). This led to 18 more cruises with her (all on Holland America). In the meantime I decided if I wanted to keep cruising I had better go back to work full time as her cruising days were over. Then I got my husband "hooked", although I have done many cruises by myself also.
This January my husband and I will be sailing on 3-months of the Rotterdam VI's World Cruise...it will be my 63rd sailing with HAL and my 74th sailing. As you can see I always seem to return to Holland America.
Changes I've seen are mostly what Sympatico has stated above. Although in the OLD days there were no Lido's. On the old Statendam and Rotterdam V that area was originally a lounge area. I believe HAL was the first line to start with the Lido...a big improvement. There have been many small changes...can't remember them all. Ships are less formal today than before...but then, so is society in general.
I'm sure that NAL can improve on what I've said.
One thing I will always remember is that whenever we were returning to port to disembark we were already planning our next cruise. Hope you enjoy crusing as much as we all have, and I'm sure both Sympatico and NAL feel the same way!

Posts: 133 | From: S.Dennis,MA, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 09-07-2000 03:56 PM

Ali......
I think sympatico and LizB covered most of
the changes.....I can think of one more big
change. I started ship travel in 1954 with
a crossing on the old Nieuw Amsterdam and
a return on the Ryndam. In those days the
ships were crewed with the nationality of
the ship.....HAL had all Dutch, for example. The multinational crews began in the early
70's when unions caused the demand for
wages the steamship lines could no longer
afford.....there were other causes too. I
had my first real cruise in the late 50's
again on the Nieuw Amsterdam....we sailed
from NYC for 16 or 18 days for around $500.
a person.....now that's a big change!!!!
I was lucky.....I had parents and grand-
parents who loved to sail so I got hooked
at a young age. I still feel there is
nothing in the world like a sea voyage. I
like the sea days the best and sometimes
feel the ports of call are a bothersome
inconvenience......but not always.
Happy sailing!!!!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ali
First Class Passenger
Member # 1526

posted 09-07-2000 06:05 PM

NAL, Sympatico and LizB - Thank you! What lucky people you are and what wonderful experiences you all must have had! I am a "late bloomer" regarding an interest in cruises, but I am totally hooked. I, too, would not mind just cruising around and ignoring the ports... Someday I hope our budget will allow at least one, hopefully, two, cruises a year. Either that, or maybe I could hire out as a "cruise companion". Thank you again for all your insights. HAL must be one great cruise line for you to be so loyal.

Posts: 26 | From: Defiance, Ohio USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 09-07-2000 08:24 PM

Sympatico,
I'm so glad to see your posting, I just showed it to my husband. I dont have anywhere near the number of cruises you had, but I'm sure trying. I also spend every spare dime on cruising.( What can I say, no other bad habits lol. ) I am quitting work next week and sort of retiring but I cant call it that cause I'm too young to be pensioned. Everyone says "Poor you, you wont be able to cruise anymore if you dont work" I say I'll cruise twice as much and probably live on wieners and beans. Look at all the time I'll have on my hands to cruise. I'm convinced I wont regret any of those trips either. Life is too short. I might as well cruise now. Thanks.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 09-07-2000 09:56 PM

Justine - you said it all - life is too short. Good luck and happy cruising. You have to get away from those cold winter days and nights in Timmins once in a while, eh!

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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